Method and tool for anchoring tubes



Patented Apr. 21, 1936 UNITED STATES METHOD AND TOOL FOR TUBES PATENT OFFIC'E- Application 8, 1934, Serial No. 724,530

4 Claims.

The present invention relates to a method of anchoring a hollow tube within a wooden base or the like, and is more particularly concerned with the method and tool employed for anchoring a hollow socket within a wood heel base.

A form of heel construction provides a tubular metallic socket of non-circular cross-section, which is inserted in a wood heel base. This socket is intended to receive and hold a post attached to a removable top lift of leather, rubber or the like, the purpose of the construction being to provide a simple and effective method of detachably retaining a top lift in proper position at the lower end of a wood heel.

Inasmuch as the post is frictionally engaged Within the socket, it is important and desirable that the socket be firmly anchored within the wood heel base in such a manner that it cannot be withdrawn therefrom upon removal of the post from the top lift. Accordingly the present invention contemplates the formation of one or more outwardly extending ribs or projections from the wall of the socket after the latter has been inserted within the wood heel base, these projections extending beyond the outer surface of the socket and anchoring the socket permanently within the base. For the purpose of forming one or more of these projections in a non-circular socket such as shown, I provide a tool having the general conformation of the socket in cross-section and provided with one or more forming projections designed to engage and force the wall of the socket outwardly when the tool is rotated therein. By inserting the tool in the socket with the forming projections located away from the open end of the socket, and by then rotating the tool, the wall is worked outwardly throughout a limited area, anchoring it within the base.

In the accompanying drawing illustrating the preferred form of the invention, Fig. 1 is a sectional elevation of a heel base with the detachable top lift shown thereon; Fig. 2 is a section of the socket embedded in the base, with the forming tool in operative relation thereto; Fig. 3 is a section upon the line 3-3 of Fig. 2, before the projections have been formed in the socket; Fig. 4 is a view similar to Fig. 2, illustrating the formation of the projections; and Fig. 5 is a section upon the line 5-5 of Fig. 4, showing the socket after formation of the locking projections therein.

Referring to the illustrated embodiment of the invention, a wood heel base I is provided with a tubular socket l2 of non-circular crosssection,

which receives a similarly shaped post II attached to a top lift IS. The socket and post may,

if so desired, be provided with cooperating detents l8 to aid in holding the post within the socket. It is desirable to rigidly anchor the socket within the heel base after assembly therewith, and this is accomplished through the use of a tool 20 having an operating shank 22 designed to extend within the socket. This shank carries at its outer end a series of three forming projections 24, which together provide a generally triangular shape which conforms to the inner cross-section of the tubular socket. The tool may rest upon the outer end of the base through the flange 26, and is provided with a handle 28 through which it is turned.

By properly inserting the tool within the socket and turning it throughout an angle of perhaps 120, the forming projections 24 are caused to engage with adjacent walls of the socket, as indicated more particularly in Figs. 4 and 5, and force the walls of the socket outwardly into tongues 30. These tongues anchor the socket permanently within the wood heel base, as indicated. Obviously these projections are formed in 25 the socket at a point removed from the open end, and spaced from the detent iii, if any, formed in the socket.

The shank 22 is adjustable to provide for the location of the forming tools at any desired point within the socket, the shank being locked in adjusted position through a locking screw 32.

What is claimed is:

1. The method of anchoring a non-circular tube within a compressible surrounding base which consists in assembling the tube within the base, inserting within the tube a tool having an effective cross-section at its operating end fitting and conforming generally to the non-circular cross-section of the tube and a forming member designed to engage and force the wall of the tube outwardly and thereafter turning the tool within the tube to force the forming member into engagement with the wall of the tube and produce an outwardly formed tongue in the tube wall.

2. A tool for locking a tube of irregular crosssection within a bore of similar cross-section, comprising a shank slightly smaller than the inside of the tube, having an extremity of irregular shape similar to the shape of the tube but slightly smaller than the inside of the tube, means for determining the depth of entry of the shank into the tube, and means for imparting a tuming movement to the shank, thereby causing the 5:

integral extremity of the shank to expand the tube, thus locking the tube to the bore.

3. A tool for locking a metallic tube 0! triangular cross-section within a slightly larger heel base, comprising a shank slightly smaller than the inside of the tube, the shank being terminated at one end by a portion of triangular cross-section slightly smaller than the inside of the tube, the other end oi! the shank being provided with a handle by means of which the shank maybe inserted into the tube and rotated relatively thereto, thereby expanding the tube.

4. A tool for looking a metallic tube or triangular cross-section within a heel base, said tool comprising a shank having an enlarged triangular extremity consisting of three radial lugs, the triangular extremity being similar in shape to the triangular tube and adapted for insertion into the same when angularly aligned therewith, a stop for longitudinally positioning the triangular extremity in relation to the surrounding triangular tube, a handle-fixed to the shank as means for producing an angular movement or the triangular extremity, thereby causing: the radial lugs 01 said extremity to engage the walls 0! the triangular tube, thus producing a localized expansion 0! the tube, the expanded portions of the tube biting into the walls of the heel base and thus locking the tube to the base.

JAMES F. MORE; 

